The gas company that had to plug a problematic gas well earlier this year in Washington Township got approval from township supervisors for a new well pad along Turack Road.
CNX Resources of Canonsburg is applying for permits for a new well pad on property owned by the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County around Beaver Run Reservoir, according to Washington Township officials.
CNX plugged one of its wells, known as the Shaw 1G well, in another part of the township, also on Municipal Authority property, after it lost pressure in late January.
The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a notice of violation to CNX for “failure to construct and operate a well to ensure that the well integrity is maintained” and “failure to equip the well with casings of sufficient strength.”
CNX officials said that the incident was isolated and caused by a “casing integrity issue” about a mile underground.
There were no reports of water contamination or other issues, according to DEP, CNX and township officials.
Beaver Run Reservoir is the drinking water supply for about 130,000 residents, according to the water authority.
DEP’s investigation on the Shaw 1G well incident still was in progress as of Tuesday, said agency spokeswoman Lauren Fraley.
Township supervisors unanimously granted conditional approval for CNX’s most recent project, including a bond for township roadways from Route 66 to the proposed well pad site, according to Supervisor Rich Hill.
The proposed well is a mile or two away from the Shaw site and doesn’t seem to be related to the other site, he said.
Historically, residents and the township have been concerned mostly about how such projects would impact traffic and the integrity of township roads, which CNX has addressed in the past, according to Hill.
“CNX has gone above and beyond to make sure the township roads are up to standard for the truck traffic and heavy equipment,” he said.
A few residents voiced concerns recently about the use of brake retarders on trucks, as the site is on the hill, and potential noise from the site as the well pad is developed.
Ever since the standing-room-only public meeting earlier this year about the Shaw well pad, “there hasn’t been a peep,” Hill said.
CNX did not return a message seeking comment.
